Crash near Reddick leaves one man dead

Published: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 10:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 10:10 p.m.

REDDICK — A two-vehicle crash on U.S. 441 in northern Marion County involving a driver from Gainesville claimed the life of one man Friday night, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers.

Troopers at the scene of the crash said a 1999 Ford Ranger, driven by Denise Kirkland of Gainesville, was in the inside lane on U.S. 441 heading north, when a car exiting Northwest 165th Street pulled into the path of the pickup truck and was struck on the driver’s side.

The impact forced both vehicles from the roadway into a paved through-way.

The driver of the car died on scene.

Kirkland and her passenger, Daniel Hodges of Ocala, were not injured in the crash.

Kirkland, 43, was shaken up about the crash. Hodges, who talked with an FHP traffic homicide investigator about the crash, declined to talk about the accident.

Hodges did say that he had just been picked up from work and that Kirkland was too shaken up to speak.

Officials said the driver of the car, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. Kirkland and Hodges were wearing their seat belts, officials said.

Authorities said they received the call about the accident, which occurred on a dark stretch of the roadway, at 6:25 p.m.

<p>REDDICK — A two-vehicle crash on U.S. 441 in northern Marion County involving a driver from Gainesville claimed the life of one man Friday night, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers.</p><p>Troopers at the scene of the crash said a 1999 Ford Ranger, driven by Denise Kirkland of Gainesville, was in the inside lane on U.S. 441 heading north, when a car exiting Northwest 165th Street pulled into the path of the pickup truck and was struck on the driver's side.</p><p>The impact forced both vehicles from the roadway into a paved through-way.</p><p>The driver of the car died on scene.</p><p>Kirkland and her passenger, Daniel Hodges of Ocala, were not injured in the crash.</p><p>Kirkland, 43, was shaken up about the crash. Hodges, who talked with an FHP traffic homicide investigator about the crash, declined to talk about the accident.</p><p>Hodges did say that he had just been picked up from work and that Kirkland was too shaken up to speak.</p><p>Officials said the driver of the car, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. Kirkland and Hodges were wearing their seat belts, officials said.</p><p>Authorities said they received the call about the accident, which occurred on a dark stretch of the roadway, at 6:25 p.m.</p>